This is your Jefferson PTA!

Welcome to the 2017 - 2018 School Year!

The Jefferson Elementary PTA provides several programs to all students, including the Thanksgiving Feast, Science Olympiad, and Author Visits at no cost to the students or teachers. Check out a listof all the great things your PTA offers!

Join the PTA and you also receive access to MySchoolAnywhere, the Jefferson online directory and app.

If you are interested in volunteering for any of the events the PTA has to offer, you can sign up at the PTA Ice Cream Social or complete the Volunteer Sign-up form and mail to: Jefferson PTA, 360 E. Crescent Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126.

We can’t wait for you to join and get involved!

Jefferson PTA Newsletter

TIGER BEAT WEEKLY

February 13, 2018

Student Late Arrival Day - The next Student Late Arrival Day is THIS Wednesday, February 14th. Supervised student arrival starts at 9:30 am. Start and Dismissal times for 2017-18 Student Late Arrival days are as follows:

Coffee with Mrs. Weber - The members of the PTA Board are often asked about school policy or events and we in turn ask Mrs. Weber. We thought a great way to answer these questions would be to host an event with Mrs. Weber. So the PTA is happy to introduce Coffee with Mrs. Weber. This is an opportunity for you to ask your questions about all things Jefferson related and to get to know our Principal better. Please join us on February 23rd. Coffee starts right after drop-off and our discussion starts at8:30AM.

PTA Meeting - Our next PTA Meeting is Thursday, March 8th at 7pm in the Jefferson MPR. We hope to see you there!

Board of Education Liaison - Did you know that all District 205 schools have a member of the Board of Education that serves as a liaison for their school? Board of Education member Kara Caforio is our Board of Education Liaison. She attended our last PTA meeting and discussed many things with those present. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please connect with Kara at kcaforio@elmhurst205.org.

Jefferson Ice Skating Party - The Jefferson Ice Skating party will be Monday, February 19th from 12:15-2:15 at the Elmhurst YMCA. Skate rental is free. Waivers are required by the YMCA and can be printed out online or at the door. We are looking for donations of store bought with ingredients labeled baked goods!!! Questions contact Anne Paschen at annepaschen@comcast.net.

Jefferson Winter Carnival - The 2018 Jefferson Winter Carnival - Tiger Fest is Saturday, February 24th from 12-4PM. This event is Jefferson’s biggest fundraiser! The carnival generates funds for the PTA to support all of the great programming, family events and school improvements at Jefferson. We are so fortunate to be a part of such an incredible school. We need YOUR help to make the 2018 Jefferson Winter Carnival a success! This year we are raising funds for a Jefferson Environment Club (Recycling, Gardening, etc.), Classroom Libraries, a new Maker Space in the Library, as well as the funding the many programs traditionally provided by the PTA (hospitality, Junior Achievement, classroom parties and so much more).

Donation Ideas: We need some donations to make some of the most popular Carnival attractions possible! All the money we make goes directly back to ALL children at Jefferson. Here are some ideas, including Tiger Bucks and gift items for our Silent Auction:

Tiger Bucks Donations - Back for the 8th year! Last year, the PTA raised over $2,000 just Tiger Bucks alone!

Money: Any amount helps purchase prizes for the Tiger Bucks (checks can be made to the Jefferson PTA with “Tiger Bucks” in the memo line)

Gift Cards: We use gift cards from stores like Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, etc., to buy prizes needed for the game and/or $5-10 gift cards for prizes.

Prizes: Any sized prize, grand to very small (toys, electronics, jewelry, crafts, etc.)

Candy: Movie size candy boxes or full sized candy bars

Clean Out Your Closet: Donate any NEW toys or games your children have received from Christmas, birthdays, or anytime that they will not be using. Nothing is too small!

Experience Parties - Do you love to have fun with your Jefferson friends? Host an "Experience Party!" How does an experience party work? Generous parents host and pay for fun events that can take place during the next several months, at your home or any venue for any number of guests. It's all up to the hosts. Jefferson families will sign up to attend the parties at the Winter Carnival for a fee. Proceeds go to the Jefferson PTA and benefit Jefferson students. We encourage couples or friends to co-host together! Here are some examples of widely popular events from previous years:

Moms Nights Out

Pool Party Time

Jefferson Parents Fall Trolley

Costume Halloween Party

Family Egg Hunt

Dad’s Fantasy Football

Other ideas include: a Derby Party, Yoga Night, Outdoor Movie Night, Trivia Night, Gaming Party, Back to School Party, Ninja Warrior Party, etc. If you have an idea for an "Experience Party" you would like to host, please contact either Kathy Fromm atkkelly098@aol.com or Jennifer Hall at jenniferannehall@gmail.com.

The Jefferson Winter Carnival is open to everyone in the Jefferson Elementary community. Your family’s attendance at this awesome event is what matters most. We look forward to seeing you there!

Carnival Wristband and Raffle Ticket Presale - Carnival wristbands and raffle tickets can be pre-ordered NOW! The order form is available here. The wristband includes unlimited Carnival games, balloon twister and face painting. The discounted pre-sale price is $15 for big kids and $5 for kids 3 and under. The same order form can be used to preorder raffle tickets that can be used for the Cake Walk, Teacher Raffles and Classroom Raffle Baskets for $1 per ticket. The last day to buy via the presale is February 16th. If you have any questions please email: jeffersonwintercarnival@gmail.com.

Carnival Volunteers Needed -The Winter Carnival needs over 100 volunteers. Anyone over the age of 12 can help! We need volunteers for staffing games during the carnival hours, concessions and prize room. See the Sign-Up Genius. Do you know a high school student that needs NHS volunteer hours? Forward this on and have them sign up! Don't worry if the spots are taken. We can always find something for you to help with!

NO GAME SET UP OR TEAR DOWN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THIS YEAR!

Dad's Club Post Carnival Night Out - Want to continue the Carnival fun? Join the Jefferson Dads' Club on February 24th, around 4:00p.m. at Doc’s located at 490 S. Spring Rd.

Doc’s has graciously offered to donate 25% of all checks on February 24th to the Dad's Club for customers mentioning Jefferson School, so we invite all families and friends to join us for dinner at Doc’s after the end of the Jefferson Carnival. We will have the full back-room available/reserved for our groups, as well as seating in the front area if preferred. In addition, all are welcome to stay (or come back later) and join us throughout the evening! If you are interested, please contact Erik Ives at eives@foxswibel.com so we can provide Doc's with a rough headcount.

The Dads' Club would like to offer a huge thanks to the PTA for organizing the Carnival and also thank all who attended the Chili Cook-Off in late-January – we had a great turnout and a fantastic time was had by all!

March 6th: REACH Informational Meeting. The REACH PTA invites you to an Informational Parent meeting to discuss an overview of the REACH program, Tuesday, March 6that 7 p.m. in the Sandburg Middle School auditorium (doors 3 & 7 will be open). Invited speaker is Deborah Lee, District Coordinator for Professional Learning–REACH. The presentation will cover a program overview, identification, expectations, appeals process, and more. There will be an added focus on those families who have received notice that their student will be joining REACH on March 1st.

Executive Function Educational Series: Speaker Dr. Georgia Bozeday, EdD, Director Educational Services at Rush Neurobehavioral Center. This educational series was made possible through a District 205 Foundation Grant. For more information about the program and/or the speaker visit the REACH PTA website.

Parenting to Promote a Growth Mindset - March 8th, 2018: Time 6:30 -8:30pm at Sandburg Auditorium- Doors 3 and 7 will be open. This parent presentation will center on exploring the current research related to Carol Dweck's concept of Mindset. Mindset is defined as a set of beliefs or a way of thinking that determines one' behavior, outlook, and mental attitude. Within this frame of reference, parents will identify practices that fall into either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset category. This workshop will provide specific focus on ways parents can develop a Growth Mindset with their children in order to develop problem-solving skills and persistence even in the face of obstacles.

The Twenty-first Century Teenage Brain - April 12, 2018 Time 6:30 -8:30pm Sandburg Auditorium- Doors 3 and 7 will be open. This parent presentation will center on brain development and personality characteristics commonly associated with adolescent development. Anchored in recent research in neuroscience, the focus for this parent presentation is twofold:

What does the current research tell us about the unique aspects of the teen brain?

How can we use these understanding to inform our parenting approaches?

Dual Language Program - A Dual Language program has been approved by the District 205 Board. This is an enrichment bilingual education program where native Spanish and native English speakers are integrated and instructed in both Spanish and English. There is one remaining informational session today, February 13th at Madison Early Childhood Center. For more information on the Dual Language program please click here. If you have any additional questions please email parent Gina Padgett atnaplinu2@gmail.com or D205 English Language/Bilingual Coordinator Ariana Leonard at aleonard@elmhurst205.org. Questions posted from all PTA's will be posted to the website, along with additional information.

Did you miss out on an experience party this year? Remember to watch for the Experience Parties at this year's Winter Carnival!

PTA Council Scholarship Fundraiser - The PTA Council provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and information between the local PTAs within District 205. The Council also raises funds for scholarships awarded to York High School graduating Seniors each year. Help support PTA Council Scholarships and have fun at the same time by attending one of the upcoming events.

For details and tickets to the PTA Council Fundraiser at Elmhurst Brewing Company, please email Heidi Maier at heidibmaier@gmail.com.

Six Flags Great America Reading Program - The reading logs for this program are due Monday, February 12th. The FREE tickets will be received in May. A regular ticket is $75, so this is a great way to encourage reading and save on a visit to Six Flags.